Assorting and grading machine



(No Modem 2 Sheets-Sham, 1.

J; H. RISNLEY au o. W. PEASE. ASSORTING AND GRADING MACHINE.

` /Wj/WQ 'l l v Attorney.

rNo Model.) 2 sheets-sudest 2.

J. H. RISLBY 8v C. W. PEASE. AssoN'rING AND GRADING MACHINE.

No. 555,973. PatentedMar. 10, 1896. A

Witnesss: -jlrlver-runrs MA W24@ /Nf y /f/fm,

Attorney.

MMM, PHOTO-UTNO-WASNINGTDMUC.

llNiTnn STATES` PATENT Ormes.

JOHN Il. RISLEY AND CHARLES W. PEASE, OF ROCHESTER, NEV YORK.

ASSORTING AND GRADING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,973, dated March10, 1896.

pplication tiled January 23, 1895. Serial No. 535,902. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN H. RisLnY and CHARLEs W. PEAsE, of Rochester,in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a certainnew and useful lmprovement in Assorting and Grading Machines and we dohereby declare that .the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the drawingsaccompanying this application.

Our improvement relates to a machine for assorting and grading coarsematerials into different sizes; and it consists in the construction andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical section. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section. Fig.4 is a sectional side elevation of the devices for adjusting the machineto change the grade. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of thebed. Fig. 6 is a cross-section of a portion of the bed, showing amodiiication.

This machine is designed for assorting and grading into different sizesall kinds of coarse materials-such as fruits,vegetables,coal, ctc.

A indicates the supporting-frame, consisting of side pieces d asupported by legs b b.

Bis a hopper at one end through which the material is fed to the machinebeneath.

O is a fixed bed attached to the main frame, and consisting oflongitudinal bars c c c, situated at determinate distances apart andsupported by cross-bars d d attached to the main frame. The articles tobe assorted fall from the hopper onto the bars and are swept forward bydevices hereinafter described.

D is a trough located above the bed O, said `trough consisting of siderails ff and a series of tubes or rods g g extending longitudinallyabove the bed, and attached to cross-pins h h forming a part of thetrough. The tubes g g rest half-way between the bars c c, but at somedistance above them, as shown in the cross-section, Fig. 3.

E E are endless drive-chains on opposite sides of the machine, passingat one end around sprocket-wheels F F, by which they receive motion, andat the other around rollers F' F'.

i i are cross-rods attached to the chains at intervals and extendingacross the machine, passing between the bars c c and tubes g The ends ofeach cross-bar 7L "rest in inclined slots 7l: k ofbearings G G, as shownin Fig. 4, by which means as the trough is moved forward it is elevatedso that the tubes g g stand at a greater height above the bars cl d,thereby increasing the size of the spaces between them. The slots at thefront end have greater inclination than those next to the hopper, asshown at the right in Fig. Il, by which means when the trough is movedforward it is elevated more at the front than the rear, and the spacesbetween the bars and the tubes are correspondingly increased at thatpoint.

H is a slotted rack beneath the bed for catching and discharging such ofthe articles as drop through, and sifting them clean of dirt.

The operation is as follows: The articles to Abe assorted drop from thehopper to the bed and are moved gradually forward by the cross-rods i,z, as described. `The smaller sizes pass through the spaces between thebars c and tubes g in an angular direction, as indicated by the arrowsin'Fig. 3, while those of the largest size pass forward and aredischarged over the end of the machine onto a chute m. The articleswhich pass through the bed are graded in different sizes by reason ofthe greater elevation of the outer end of the trough, as beforedescribed. .As many different gradesmay be made as desired by moving thetrough forward or back. The capacity is greater than in ordinarymachines of thekind, as the grading is accomplished by continuousaction, no intermission being required. The machine is simple and notliable to get out of order. The trough is held at any adjustment by anysuitable means, that shown in the drawings consisting of a slotted armn, Fig. 4, attached to one of the cross-pieces and secured in place by asetscrew o, which enters the bearing.

This machine is capable,with suitable modifications, of grading articlesof various kinds, large and small, such as fruits, vegetables, coal,also small articles like beans or peanuts. Fig. 6 shows a form forgrading such small articles, in which the bars and tubes are broughtnear together and the cross -wires are corrugated, by'which means thespaces through which the articles pass are made small.

Having described `our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. In an assorting and grading machine, the combination of a stationarybed consisting of longitudinal bars, a set of movable rods or tubeslocated above the bed intermediately of the bars, drive-chains passingaround rollers, and cross-rods attached to the chains, which passbetween the bars and tubes, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In an assorting and grading machine, the combination ot' a mainframe, a hopper, a stationary bed consisting of longitudinal bars, atrough provided with side rails and longitudinal tubes resting above thebed, drive-chains running on sprockets and rollers, and cross-rodsforming feeders running between the bed and trough, as herein set forth.

3. In an assorting and grading machine, the combination of a main frame,a stationary bed provided with longitudinal bars, a hopper, a troughprovided with longitudinal tubes resting above the bed, stationarybearings at the ends of the machine provided with inclined slots inwhich rest pins on the trough, drive-chains running on sprockets androllers, and cross-rods forming feeders running between the bed andtrough, said trough being movable endwise to produce vertical adjustmentof the same to increase the size of the grading-passages, as hereinshown and described.

4L. The combination of a fixed bed provided with bars, a movable troughprovided with tubes resting above the bars, drive-chains running onsprockets and rollers, Yand crossrods attached to the chains and passingbetween the bars and tubes, said rods being corrugated as and for thepurpose specified.

In witness whereof we have hereunto signed our names in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JOHN H. RISLEY. CHARLES W. PEASE.

Witnesses:

R. F. Oseoon, C. R. JOsGooD,

